New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-30
Antwerp ttls morning.
NEW RULES At HARVARD.
THE GRADING sYsTEM-PREsIDENTs REPoRr-THE
library.

THE GRADING sYsTEM-PREsIDENTs REPoRr-THE
LIBRARY.
CAMBRIDGE, Jan. 29-During the last week there
have been two important events in the college world
at Harvard. One of these the publication of q
new set of resolutions by the authorities to the
marking system; the other was the publication oil
tho reports of the president dean of the college, and
OF the heads OF tao numberless departments OF the
University, for the year beginning with September
~, 1883, and extending to October 1, 1886 The new
examination regulations exceedingly important.
When the new grading system put into working
at the beginning OF this year the students of each cass
were roughly divided into five classes, according to
their rank in examination. But nobody knew just
how well he must do to attain to certain grade. He
only knew that some mysterious system would assign
MS place In grade "A or grade "B" or grade
good " far" or "poor in his examination. But
no student could feel that he had done exactly
enough good work to put him in the grade he desired
IL light be that few strokes more OF hard work
would gain him grade which he would lose if he
omitted just that extra work. Then, too: scholar
ships must be assigned so 1t would be absolutely
cents included in the different grades At the last
faculty meeting of this week it resolved that
Grade @ae all having at least 80 1 Per 20 cent
cent, grade D." 40. 90 per cent. Grade "E is an
indefinite grade including all who fail to got the pass
mark which Is 40 per cent Under this grading
,no nhH WHO Rets 20 per Ccht ntanuo Juoe 90
well as the man who gets 80 per cent, though the
latter may DO much the better student. 1t would
plainly be unjust that tho student who gets the former
mark should get high q scholarship the latter
and apparently, therefore, the system Is not fully
carried out in this drection-the scholarships are
given according to the exact percentages, not 40
students OF the whole five grades continue in exactly
the same classes before It is difficult to that the
of the great Importance that has been given to it, 1t
10 simply device to prevent students from knowing
their exact percentages and in so far 1t discourases
"cramming tor marks"
The Presidents Report" II Is always called, is
not this year an important document. 1t is mainly
reminisoatory, conRratulntory and financial 1t ad.
criticism. President Eliot first notices the death OF
Professor +. w. Quincy, of the Historical Depart
ment, and OF Mr.. John Langdon Sibley, the we'll
known former Librarian OF the COLLEGE,. In his refer
enoe to the great revolution in religious methods seen
in the college during the last year, the president
seems to be wholly pleased with the unexpected sue
OF the change. He says that the success OF the
new system has surprised even its most ardent ad-
yocatcs The officers and students OF the college and
large portion of the thoughtful public have shown
great interest in this enterprise. The srm OF 500
has been subscribed toward q new building tor the
Divinity School The Law School Is in position of
ss only e sa, ShSi nnd
Medical School is slowly gaining in the number OF
students and income. The president discusses at
length plan Tor abrdging the tour years course IN
the college tor those students who are intending to
take ull course in the Medical School and In the
Law School. President Eliot strongly fayors such
plan. In an existence OF twenty years tho Dental
School has graduated 1876 Doctors of Dental Medicine
But 1t Ia still without endowment and owes the uni
versty over $4,000. The Lawrence Scientific school
has had most of it functions absorbed by the college
The Veterinary School remains unendowed but it is
doing excellent work.
The college library increased during the past
year BY only O. 73O volumes against II. ii2 yolu mes
In the preceding year 1t now has 2iO.nOO volumes
and 233, 900 pamphlets. But 5,506 volumes were
taken out by the students during the past year, but
counting In outsiders permitted to use the library
l,35S persons carried homo Al books apiece on the
average during the past year; fact which shows
that the library cannot be regarded narrowly as q
mere C lllege institution. The library ha' received
several large requests, with an income OF 10000, not
restricted TO the purchase OF books. Among new
buildings needed dormitory reading groom,
botanical museum with laboratories and lecture
rooms a swImmng-bnth, boah house and new build
ing for tho observatory. The college investments
get but 1900 per cent, against 1l-1OO OF 10
years ago. Thus greater amount OF money proper
tonally is required tor the maintenance Of the college
than.ever before The totals Of general investments
for the university exclusive OF the late great bcquests
are Sl577,475 while the special investments arc
1913, 267 The whole report shows that the univer-
sity is in fine condition The things that are needed
ara not absolutely and Immediately necessary.